Chairperson SP
Daly will welcome everyone in attendance. Member JC Cleave will lead a karakia.
2 Apologies
At the close of
the agenda no apologies had been received.
3 Declaration of Interest
Members are
reminded of the need to be vigilant to stand aside from decision making when a
conflict arises between their role as a member and any private or other
external interest they might have.
4 Confirmation of Minutes
|
That the Great Barrier Environment Committee:
a)
confirm the ordinary minutes of its meeting,
held on Wednesday, 23 July 2014, as a true and
correct record.
|
5 Leave of Absence
At the close of
the agenda no requests for leave of absence had been received.
6 Acknowledgements
At the close of
the agenda no requests for acknowledgements had been received.
7 Petitions
At the close of
the agenda no requests to present petitions had been received.
8 Deputations
Standing Order 3.20 provides for deputations. Those applying
for deputations are required to give seven working days’ notice of subject
matter and applications are approved by the Chairperson of the Board. This
means that details relating to deputations can be included in the published
agenda. Total speaking time per deputation is ten minutes or as resolved
by the meeting.
At the close of the agenda no requests to speak had been received.
At the close of the agenda no requests for deputations had been
received.
9 Public Forum
A period of time (approximately
30 minutes) is set aside for members of the public to address the meeting on
matters within its delegated authority. A maximum of 3 minutes per item is
allowed, following which there may be questions from members.
At the close of
the agenda no requests for public forum had been received.
10 Extraordinary Business
Section 46A(7) of
the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 (as amended)
states:
“An item that is
not on the agenda for a meeting may be dealt with at that meeting if-
(a) The local authority by resolution so decides; and
(b) The presiding member explains at the meeting, at a time
when it is open to the public,-
(i) The
reason why the item is not on the agenda; and
(ii) The reason why the discussion of the item cannot be
delayed until a subsequent meeting.”
Section 46A(7A)
of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 (as amended)
states:
“Where an item
is not on the agenda for a meeting,-
(a) That item may be discussed at that meeting if-
(i) That item is a minor matter relating to the general
business of the local authority; and
(ii) the presiding member explains at the beginning of the
meeting, at a time when it is open to the public, that the item will be
discussed at the meeting; but
(b) no resolution, decision or recommendation may be made in
respect of that item except to refer that item to a subsequent meeting of the
local authority for further discussion.”
11 Notices of Motion
At the close of
the agenda no requests for notices of motion had been received.
|
Great Barrier
Environment Committee
24 September
2014
|
|
Proposed 2014/2015 Environment Work Programme
File No.: CP2014/19767
Purpose
1. To agree the
2014/2015 work programme for the Great Barrier Local Board (the board) budget
lines for biosecurity and pest management programmes, dune restoration / rabbit
control and environmental enhancement.
Executive
summary
2. The board
allocated budget in its 2014/2015 Local Board Agreement (LBA) for biosecurity
pest management programmes ($52,396) and environmental enhancement ($49,558),
as well as a smaller line item ($10,587) supporting dune restoration and rabbit
control. This report presents a draft work programme supporting those budget
lines to the Great Barrier Environment Committee (the committee) for agreement.
3. In addition, the
report highlights a number of regionally funded environment projects that
support the board’s priority of protecting and enhancing its environment. This
information provides the committee with a more comprehensive view of
environmental activity in its area.
|
Recommendations
That the Great Barrier
Environment Committee:
a) Receives the
Proposed 2014/2015 Environment Work Programme report.
b) Agrees to fund
rabbit control at a total cost of $27,020 with funding of $10,587 from the
dune restoration and rabbit control budget and $16,433 from the biosecurity
pest management budget.
c) Agrees to fund
the following biosecurity projects at a total cost of $30,000, with funding
of $30,000 from the 2014/2015 budget line for biosecurity pest management
programmes, and the difference of $5,963 to be funded from the board’s
discretionary funding.
|
Project
|
Cost
|
Funding Sources
|
|
Weed Management
|
$15,000
|
A total of $9,037 from the local
biosecurity budget line of and a total of $5,963 from the discretionary
budget
|
|
Rainbow Skink Surveillance
|
$15,000
|
A total of $15,000 from the local
biosecurity budget line
|
|
Total
|
$30,000
|
|
d) Agrees
to fund the following projects at a total cost of $51,460, with funding of
$49,558 from the 2014/2015 budget line for environmental enhancement, and the
difference of $1,902 to be funded from the board’s discretionary funding.
|
Project
|
Cost
|
Funding sources
|
|
Conservation of leptinella
population at Awana
|
$10,000
|
A total of $8,098 from the local
Environmental Enhancement budget and $1,902 from the discretionary budget.
|
|
Sustainability Initiatives
|
$10,000
|
A total of $10,000 from the local
Environmental Enhancement budget
|
|
Fencing and Planting Fund
|
$15,000
|
A total of $10,000 from the local
Environmental Enhancement budget
|
|
Water Quality Monitoring Programme
|
$16,460
|
A total of $10,000 from the local
Environmental Enhancement budget
|
|
Total
|
$51,460
|
|
e) Agrees
to fund weed management and wildlife monitoring at Kaitoke at a total cost of
$7,750 from its discretionary opex budget.
|
Comments
4. The board
allocated budget in its 2014/2015 LBA for environmental enhancement and
biosecurity programmes. There is also a smaller budget for dune restoration and
rabbit control. Table 1 below outlines a proposed work programme supporting
those three budget lines, with additional detail provided in paragraphs 6 to 34
below.
5. The proposed
environment programme totals more than the available budget for environmental
projects. As such, implementation of the full environment programme will
require additional funding from the board’s discretionary budgets.
|
Outcome
area
|
Project
|
Objective
|
Cost
|
|
Biosecurity
and Pest Control Programmes
|
Rabbit and
Feral Cat Control
|
· To undertake rabbit control, including warren
destruction and fumigation at eight sites on Great Barrier.
· To undertake feral cat control at Awana
|
$27,020
|
|
Weed
Surveillance and Control -
|
· To undertake a weed survey of the west coast bays
· To complement the regional pest plant control
programme by undertaking control of containment pest plants on private land
|
$15,000
|
|
Rainbow
Skink Surveillance
|
· To fund the ongoing work to determine the presence
or absence of rainbow skinks at high priority sites.
|
$15,000
|
|
|
Total
Biosecurity Projects
|
$57,020
|
|
Environmental
Enhancement
|
Sustainability
Initiatives
|
· To develop a scoping report to support
prioritisation of actions to enable Great Barrier to become a leader in
alternative and renewable technologies
|
$10,000
|
|
Threatened
Plant conservation
|
· To implement the conservation management plan for
the leptinella population at Awana
|
$10,000
|
|
Water
Quality Monitoring Programme
|
· To implement a marine and freshwater quality
monitoring programme
|
$16,460
|
|
Fencing and
Planting Fund
|
· To support improvements to water quality through
fencing and planting along stream edges and the Coastal Marine Area
|
$15,000[1]
|
|
|
|
Total
Environmental Enhancement projects
|
$51,460
|
|
Discretionary
Budget
|
Kaitoke
|
· To support ongoing weed management and initial
wildlife monitoring
|
$7,750
|
|
|
|
Total
|
$116,230
|
Table 1: Proposed 2014/2015 Environment Work Programme
Biosecurity
Pest Management Programmes
6. Paragraphs 7 to
16 below provide further information on the proposed projects to be funded from
the board’s biosecurity pest management and dune restoration rabbit control
budgets.
Rabbit and Feral Cat Control ($27,020)
7. As part of its
2013/2014 environment work programme, the board funded an extensive rabbit
control programme consisting of both night shoots and warren destruction and
fumigation. Control was undertaken at Okiwi, Kaitoke, Whangapoua North and
South, and at Awana. Kawa and Motairehe were added later to the areas under
control at the request of the board. A report back on the 2013/2014 programme
was presented at the committee’s July meeting.
8. It is
recommended that the board continue to fund a rabbit control programme at those
same six sites, as well as a new site at Mabey Road. Rabbits can threaten
ecological values as well as causing damage to pasture. While significant reductions in
rabbit densities were observed as a result of the 2013/2014 control programme,
the eradication of rabbits from the island requires a sustained, longer term
control programme.
9. Feral cat control at Awana
could be undertaken in conjunction with the rabbit control work. The cost of
both the rabbit and feral cat control programme is $27,020.
10. The committee has also
expressed interest in how local Great Barrier residents can participate in the
control programme. The full proposal appended at Attachment A notes that
proposed contractors are able to provide training support for residents
interested in undertaking control work.
Weed Surveillance and Control ($15,000)
11. It is recommended
that the committee support a weed survey of the west coast bays to identify and
control pest plants. This project will consist of the following;
· prioritisation of the area of coastline to be included in the stage
one survey;
· a partnership with the Department of Conservation (DOC) to:
o attain records of low incidence weeds on
the coastal margin of the DOC estate
o use of their vessel under safe ship management to
visit those bays that are best accessed by water;
· remove any plants on the Great Barrier low incidence weeds list on
sight, and note any larger weed sites for treatment at a later date;
· Record any species that falls within the target species list.
12. The incidence of
moth plant pods and bone seed plants is increasing, encouraging the
establishment of new populations of these plants. An understanding of the
location of containment and total control pest plants will support the prioritisation
of regional funding (approximately $87,000) for pest plant control on Great
Barrier.
13. Further detail on
this project is appended at Attachment B.
14. The regional pest
plant control programme on Great Barrier does not currently fund control of
several containment pest plants (Chinese Privet, Honey Suckle, Jasmine).
However, control of these plants, particularly where they occur on private
land, will prevent them from establishing on neighbouring public or
conservation land.
Rainbow Skink Surveillance ($15,000)
15. As part of its
2013/2014 environment work programme, the board funded a survey to determine
the presence or absence of rainbow skinks at 40 sites on Great Barrier.
Although regional funding is available to undertake follow up surveys for the
presence or absence of rainbow skinks at those sites, it is recommended the
board provide funding of $15,000 to survey additional high risk sites. These
sites are noted in the detailed project plan appended at Attachment C.
16. Increased
knowledge of where rainbow skinks are present will support the prioritisation
of up to $80,000 regional funding available to control the incursion.
Environmental Enhancement
projects
17. Paragraphs 18 to
31 below provide further information on the proposed projects to be funded from
the board’s environmental enhancement budget.
Low Carbon and
Renewable Energy Action Plan ($10,000)
18. This proposed
project allows for a piece of social research and a report that would provide
the information base for the development of initiatives to facilitate the
uptake of sustainable and renewable technologies on Great Barrier.
19. The project would
commence with a voluntary community survey to provide a stocktake of the
systems households are currently using to generate energy, collect water,
manage waste and wastewater, identify barriers and benefits, and gauge the
likely uptake for potential Auckland Council initiatives (eg rates-attachment
scheme, incentives, education based programmes etc). The focus of the report
would be to identify Great Barrier specific actions for supporting the adoption
of technologies that reduce reliance on diesel generators, reduce waste to
landfill and minimise potential for water pollution.
20. The research
design and methodology for this project would be developed in collaboration
with the board. The cost of this project is $10,000.
Conservation of
leptinella at Awana
21. Leptinella
tenella (native button daisy) is a threatened native plant, and is
recognised as a high priority for conservation management in Auckland. The leptinella
tenella population at Awana is the only known population in the region. It
is recommended that the board provide funding to protect and restore riparian
margins along the esplanade reserve at Awana to ensure the long term survival
of this population.
22. In 2013/2014,
local funding allocated to the conservation of leptinella tenella
supported a survey to identify possible other leptinella populations,
and to install farm fencing to protect the Awana population. As the survey
determined that the Awana population was the lone leptinella population
on Great Barrier, the installation of the fencing was delayed until the
completion of a regionally funded management plan for the Awana population.
23. The $11,400 of
funding allocated to fencing was carried over to the current financial year.
This fencing will now be installed according to the requirements of the
management plan.
24. As part of its
2014/2015 environment programme, it is recommended that the board allocate
$10,000 to support a monitoring programme for the Awana leptinella population.
A total of four management areas have been established in order to trial what
level of weed and stock access control is required to support the conservation
of this population. Monitoring vegetation changes that occur as a result of
weed control and stock fencing in each of the management areas is required to
determine the success of these treatments. The programme will see each of the
four management areas monitored over three monitoring periods: pre-treatment,
during treatment and post-treatment. A network of transects (a path along
which one counts and records plants) with sampling plots (1x1m areas to be
examined) will allow the contactor to obtain data on existing vegetation cover.
25. Regional funding
of $8,000 will also support the conservation of leptinella. This funding
includes a contribution towards fencing, as well as data analysis and reporting
on the monitoring programme. Biodiversity staff will continue to provide
technical advice on management of this species. In addition, DOC is
contributing to the project through the provision of fencing materials.
Marine and Freshwater
Quality Monitoring 2014/2015 ($16,460)
26. The 2013 State of
the Environment Report Card for Great Barrier grades the island’s freshwater
streams as ‘A’. However, in response to increasing concerns over the water
quality in some streams flowing into the Tryphena Harbour, the board has
requested the development of a more focused monitoring programme. A further
concern is the high bacterial counts observed at some beaches. A technically
robust monitoring plan is required to assess and evaluate the effects of any
environmental stressors on the freshwater and marine environments in order to
inform the development and implementation of specific mitigation and management
strategies.
27. For the marine
environment, water quality samples will be collected monthly from the Tryphena
and Fitzroy Harbours, and analysed for a suite of water quality parameters. In
addition to this, a purpose built water quality buoy will be deployed in the
Tryphena Harbour. The buoy will measure water temperature, dissolved oxygen,
turbidity, chlorophyll a, CDOM (colour dissolved organic matter), conductivity,
salinity, air temperature, wind speed and direction and barometric pressure
every ten minutes and the data will be sent near-real time, via cell phone link
to databases maintained by Council’s Research, Investigations and Monitoring
Unit (RIMU).
28. For the
freshwater streams, a combination of short term, investigative monitoring (for
analysis of the current state and health); and long term monitoring (for
detailed and statistically robust trend analysis in the future) will be
undertaken. A total of five streams will be monitored for a range of water
quality parameters on a monthly basis. Four of these streams (Pah Beach,
Mulberry Grove North, Mulberry Grove South and Shoal Bay streams) flow into the
Tryphena Harbour, and the fifth, a reference stream, flows into Rosalie Bay.
29. The costs
associated with the marine programme include a one off cost of $2,000 for the
deployment of the buoy, and $1,400 per year for each marine water quality site
(total of $2800 for two sites). This includes freight, calibration and
laboratory analysis costs. The costs associated with the freshwater quality
programme are $1,166 per year for each monitoring site. For ten sites (five
streams upstream and downstream) the total cost will be $11,660. This includes
freight, laboratory and calibration costs. Together, the marine and freshwater
monitoring programmes would total $16,460. The full marine and freshwater
monitoring programme proposal is appended as Attachment D.
Fencing and
Planting Fund ($15,000 + $10,000 regional funding)
30. In the past two
financial years, the board has allocated part of its environmental enhancement
budget towards towards a second round of the Natural Heritage Fund (NHF). This
funding has been tagged to provide assistance to private landowners for fencing
and planting of riparian margins. It is recommended that up to $15,000 be
allocated for this purpose as part of the 2014/2015 environment work programme.
Subject to the approval of local funding for this project, an additional
$10,000 of funding will be contributed from the regional Waterways
Protection Fund.
31. As noted in
paragraphs 38 - 39 below, the regional Environmental Initiatives Fund (EIF) is
available to support Great Barrier residents to fence and plant riparian areas.
A targeted local fund for fencing and planting enables local land owners to
support the maintenance of an ‘A’ grade rating for freshwater streams on Great
Barrier. This proposed funding also aligns with the above proposed water
quality monitoring programme.
Kaitoke
Restoration ($7,550)
32. In the past two
financial years, the board has supported weed management at the Kaitoke fire
site from its discretionary opex budget as it is recognised that this work
primarily supports community and recreational priorities, not environmental
priorities.
33. In 2014/2015, it
is recommended that $6,000 be allocated to further support weed control in this
area. The focus will be on controlling those pest plants in low numbers such as
Australian pea flower and psoralea to prevent them becoming more widely established,
as well as follow up control of pampas, blackberry, brush wattle, Mexican devil
weed and Aristea.
34. It is also
recommended that some monitoring of rodent populations be undertaken at the
Kaitoke fire site. This work is estimated at $1,550. Further detail on this
project is appended at Attachment E.
Other Options
35. A number of other
projects were suggested to the board for inclusion in the 2014/2015 environment
work programme. The reasons for excluding those projects are noted in table 2
below.
|
Project
|
Reason
|
|
Biosecurity Ambassador
|
This position is based in Auckland
and is focused on preventing pests arriving on Great Barrier in the gear of
ferry passengers. As such, it was considered that this role should be funded
regionally.
|
|
Community Pest Coordinator
|
This role could be expanded to
include responsibility for other environmental projects on Great Barrier. It
is suggested that funding for this role be deferred to further refine the
scope of this proposal, and to consider whether to progress the role as part
of the development of the Long Term Plan.
|
|
Eco Event
|
A community organisation is currently
developing a proposal for such an event. It is suggested that the board not
allocate budget to this project at this time.
This event could also be funded from
budgets not targeted for environmental programmes.
|
|
Sustainability Workshops
|
This project has been referred to a
community organisation for development. Support from Infrastructure and
Environmental Services may be available to support the progression of these
workshops.
|
|
Sustainable Practice Qualification
|
This project is deferred due to
funding constraints.
|
Table 2: Other Options
Regional Projects
36. A number of
additional environment programmes on Great Barrier are supported with regional
funding. Information on regional biosecurity projects is noted in table 3
below.
|
Project
|
Objective
|
Cost
|
|
Rainbow Skink – Incursion response
|
· To respond to the incursion of rainbow
skinks on Great Barrier
|
$80,000
|
|
Pest Animal Control
|
· To undertake control of pest animals on
Great Barrier
|
$23,000
|
|
Pest Plant Control
|
· To undertake control of pest plants on
Great Barrier.
|
$87,000
|
|
Argentine Ant Control
|
· To continue control of Argentine ants.
|
$70,000
|
|
Argentine Ant monitoring/audit
|
· Audit of Argentine Ant Control
|
$6,000
|
|
Great Barrier Kauri Dieback programme
|
· To complete ground truthing of aerial
survey of kauri dieback sites with Ngati
Rehua.
|
$4,000
|
|
Signage (Kauri dieback and Treasure
Islands)
|
· To install or renew signage to align it
with the Treasure Islands and kauri dieback programme branding.
|
$2,000
|
|
Pest Control – Broken Islands;
Mahuki, Little Mahuki, Taiko, Rangiahua and Grey Group
|
· To set up monitoring grids; and to
monitor Islands with dogs
|
$11,000
|
|
Surveillance
|
· To support monitoring and surveillance
of bait stations at wharves and jetties.
|
$23,000
|
Table
3: Regional Biosecurity Work Programme
37. At its May 2014
meeting, the committee received a report on the species prioritisation approach
to the allocation of regional biodiversity budget. The committee requested “further
information on a species prioritisation list specific to Great Barrier Island”
(resolution number GBESP/2013/24). This information is
appended as Attachment F.
Contestable
Grant Funding
38. Funding is
available from the Environmental Initiatives and Waste Minimisation and
Innovation Funds to support Great Barrier residents to undertake environmental
or waste minimisation projects respectively. The EIF is an annual fund with
successful applicants agreed by the Environment Climate Change and Natural
Heritage (ECCNH) Committee. There are two rounds of Waste Minimisation and
Innovation Fund – for small grants under $5,000 and a second round supporting
larger projects. The WMIF is also agreed by the ECCNH.
39. The Natural
Heritage Fund is a legacy Auckland City Council fund available to Great Barrier
residents for environmental projects such as pest control or ecological
restoration.
Aotea Great
Barrier wastewater issues
40. Staff recently
met with the board to discuss how to address some of the community’s concerns
around wastewater and the effect it may have on water quality on Great Barrier.
While more work is required to create a work plan proposal, the workshop
provided more clarity around the focus of the project. A project team
will be set up to:
· Encourage better management of on-site
wastewater and especially to encourage wastewater management that reduces the
requirement of sending waste to the landfill. This may be through a
combination of education, incentives and perhaps a rates attachment funding
mechanism.
· Confirm the scale of the effect of
wastewater on water quality at Great Barrier.
· Investigate the scale of waste generated
by caravans and campervans on the island.
41. The principles a
project team would be guided by include the board’s desire to have an
encouraging rather than regulatory approach, and that any solutions should be
simple, practical and innovative.
Waste Minimisation
42. Regional funding
supports a local contractor to undertake community education and engagement on
waste minimisation. In 2014/2015, the work programme will focus on continuing
engagement with residents, businesses, schools and visitors as well as
delivering zero waste events and supporting social enterprise initiatives that
demonstrate how to turn waste into resources.
Consideration
Local
board views and implications
43. The Great Barrier
Local Board Plan notes that a priority for the board and its community is to
‘protect and enhance our environment’. Therefore, the board allocated budget
in its 2014/2015 LBA for biosecurity and pest management programmes, and
environmental enhancement. A further budget line supports dune restoration and
rabbit control.
44. The draft Aotea
Great Barrier Local Board Plan highlights the importance of the environment, in
particular controlling pests, to Great Barrier. The draft plan also indicates a
desire for Great Barrier to become a ‘world leader in alternative, renewable
technologies’. These aspirations are supported by the proposed environment work
programme.
45. Two workshops
were held with the committee in April and August 2014 to discuss the draft work
programme.
Māori
impact statement
46. No consultation
with iwi was undertaken for the purposes of this report. Once agreed by the
committee, the detailed design and implementation of projects may require
engagement with iwi.
Implementation
47. The marine and freshwater monitoring programme described in
paragraphs 26 to 29 above will be implemented by RIMU. The other proposed
projects will be implemented by Environmental Services.
48. Staff are working with DOC to better align work programmes and
identify how DOC could further contribute to the local and regional
environmental projects noted above. This may enable revision of some of the
projected costs for particular projects, such as rabbit control.
49. Reporting on project delivery will be included as part of the regular
Infrastructure and Environmental Services update to the committee, or as
required.
Attachments
|
No.
|
Title
|
Page
|
|
aView
|
Proposed Rabbit Control Programme
|
3
|
|
bView
|
Proposed Rainbow Skink Surveillance Programme
|
3
|
|
cView
|
Proposed Weed Management Programme
|
3
|
|
dView
|
Proposed Marine and Freshwater Monitoring Programme
|
3
|
|
eView
|
Proposed 2014/2015 Kaitoke Weed Management Programme
|
3
|
|
fView
|
Great Barrier Species Prioritisation
|
3
|
Signatories
|
Authors
|
Jeremy Warden – Biosecurity Officer
(Great Barrier)
Phil Brown – Land and Water Advisory
Team Manager
Laura Buckthought – Scientist
(Aquatic Chemistry), RIMU
Emma Joyce – Relationship Advisor
Michael Ngatai – Biodiversity Advisor
Liz Ross – Environmental Programmes
Advisor
Jarrod Walker – Senior Scientist,
RIMU
|
|
Authorisers
|
Gael Ogilvie – Environmental Services
Manager
John Dragicevich – Infrastructure and
Environmental Services Manager
John Nash – Relationship Manager/Senioe
Local Board Advisor
|
